Montclair Garbage Can Fire Causes Little Damage

Flames that reached more than two stories high licked the frame of a Plymouth Street home Christmas Eve, but there was little damage thanks to the structure's stone construction and speedy action by firefighters, a Montclair Fire Department spokesman said tonight.

Firefighters received a call at 6:17 pm after a fire broke out in a garbage can at 34 Plymouth St., Acting Battalion Chief Kevin Berry said. Fire from the can, which was placed adjacent to an exterior wall, crept up the side of the wall and at one point reached higher than the roof of the two-and-a-half story home, Berry said.

"It was a very fast response. We applied water pretty quickly and made the problem go away for them, thank God," Berry said.

The fire was caused by smoldering fireplace embers which had been placed in the can earlier in the day, Berry said.

Although the flames were higher than the home, "the fire looked much worse than it actually was," Berry said, because the home's masonry structure failed to ignite. There was only slight smoke and water damage as well as damage to a basement window, Berry said.

Engine Three was the first on the scene, which was followed by two other engines and two trucks.

"This was a nice stop by the guys," Berry said.